Padma Bridge to create 2 lakh new jobs in Barishal: Chamber chief

[Black_cats]

Padma Bridge to create 2 lakh new jobs in Barishal: Chamber chief

ECONOMY​

M Jahirul Islam Jewel
06 June, 2022, 11:05 pm
Last modified: 06 June, 2022, 11:10 pm

Factory owners have also demanded that gas be brought through a pipeline from Bhola so that they can manufacture products in competition with Dhaka and Chattogram, said the Barishal Chamber chief
Under-construction Padma bridge. Photo: BSS

Under-construction Padma bridge. Photo: BSS

A vast array of new employment opportunities will emerge from different sectors in Barishal division after the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, according to regional business leaders.

Various manufacturing plants in ready-made garments, medicine, tourism, transportation, and commodity sectors are sprouting up fast in six districts of the division.

"In my estimate, at least 2 lakh jobs will be created soon after the opening of the country's longest bridge. Many garment factory owners have already started building infrastructure at different spots by the highway connecting Barishal and Payra Port," Saidur Rahman Rintu, president of Barishal Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.

Factory owners have also demanded that gas be brought through a pipeline from Bhola so that they can manufacture products in competition with Dhaka and Chattogram, said the Barishal Chamber chief.

Around 50,000 people will get the chance to work in the apparel sector alone, while manufacturing plants of other companies will create opportunities for an additional 50,000 people, he said.

"The tourism sector will also employ a good number of people as there are numerous tourist spots in the division which will now be easily accessible to visitors because of the bridge," Saidur Rahman Rintu added.

Amir Hossain, the proprietor of Alex Shoes in Barishal, said that his factory production will be doubled once road communication with Dhaka improves.

"At present, around 50 people are working here but the number of workers will go up to 200 after the inauguration of the bridge," he said.

Tawhid Hossain Jamal, owner of Jim Food Products in Barishal BSCIC, said, "Around 150 people are working in my company now.

The number will double after the bridge opens. I will have to ramp up production as sending products to the capital will take much less time and hassle."

Mizanur Rahman, chairman of Fortune Group, has plans to open another agro-based factory in Patuakhali, where at least 1,000 jobs will be created.

"I have taken a six-acre plot in the Jhalakathi BSCIC area for opening a technology company where 10,000 people will get employment opportunities," he said.

Construction work on the factory will begin after the opening of the Padma Bridge as construction materials can be transported easily then," said Mizanur Rahman, who is also the president of the BSCIC Industry Owners' Association in Barishal.

A good number of agro-based firms are coming forward to open their factories in Barishal because of improved communication with Dhaka, he said, adding that businessmen are thankful to the prime minister for constructing the Padma Bridge.

"The number of public transports will increase five times in the Barishal region, which will require at least 10,000 more transport workers." said Kawser Hossain Shipon, secretary of the Barishal-Patuakhali Bus Minibus Owners Association, adding that the same situation will be seen in goods transportation.

"Huge employment will be created in the tourism sector as more people will swarm the tourist spots in the division round the year, particularly in Kuakata," said Motaleb Hossain, secretary of Kuakata Hotel and Motel Owners Association.

A number of new hotels and restaurants are under construction now and they will need more people for running their operations, he added.

According to 20 factory owners in various sectors, the Padma Bridge has paved the way for boosting their production. With the bridge opening, job opportunities in the region will also increase by 30-50%.

Payra Sea Port in Patuakhali will be more effective after the opening of the bridge, requiring more workers for maintenance work, according to businessmen concerned.

"The demand for healthy salt will surge as the supply capacity will increase because of the bridge. The salt factories will recruit more workers to boost production," said Salek Ahamed Saleh, a salt factory owner and former president of Jhalakathi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Padma Bridge to create 2 lakh new jobs in Barishal: Chamber chief

Factory owners have also demanded that gas be brought through a pipeline from Bhola so that they can manufacture products in competition with Dhaka and Chattogram, said the Barishal Chamber chief

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[Bilal9]

They also need to have Payra port equipped for container barge handling to supply int'l exports to outgoing ships in CTG jetties like New Mooring and Patenga.

Supplying containers that way will be way cheaper than carrying the containers to CTG via DAC, using either Trucks or Rail.

 

[BananaRepublicUK]

They also need to have Payra port equipped for container barge handling to supply int'l exports to outgoing ships in CTG jetties like New Mooring and Patenga.

Supplying containers that way will be way cheaper than carrying the containers to CTG via DAC, using either Trucks or Rail.

Master plan of BongoBandhobi!

Invest in infrastructure to spread the wealth and opportunities.

 

[Bilal9]

Master plan of BongoBandhobi!

Invest in infrastructure to spread the wealth and opportunities.

I guess we did need Padma Bridge to use Mongla and Payra ports as alternatives to ship export containers from Northern EPZs like those in Dhaka.

However it makes no sense to ship containerized export products made in Barisal and Khulna area EPZs via Dhaka and using Chittagong Port when Mongla and Payra ports are so close to those areas. In fact some low draft container ships can and do use Mongla port for container handling if the port channel can be dredged in regular basis. There is also a large EPZ near the Mongla port itself where a lot of foreign companies have set up shop already.

Once the Khulna, Barisal, Gopalganj and Patuakhali areas planned EPZs all go into operation, they will need inputs from other EPZs North of the Padma River, namely those in Dhaka and Sylhet. Inputs from the Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya hinterlands will also be used for further processing near the Mongla and Payra ports.

You can see the complete list here.

All Zones « BEZA

www.beza.gov.bd

 

[bluesky]

Factory owners have also demanded that gas be brought through a pipeline from Bhola so that they can manufacture products in competition with Dhaka and Chattogram, said the Barishal Chamber chief

So, employment depends upon the supply of energy in the SW region. One may tempt to ask why Bhola gas field(s) has not been developed yet? Was it because Padma Bridge was not there? I do not find any relationship.

In fact, Bhola gas should have been given more priority than Padma Bridge. I have been hearing about Bhola gas since time immemorial. So, I ask when it will materialize?

However, Bhola gas itself will not translate into 200,000 employment. Employment needs the setting up of factories and workshops that do not come without money and time.

The simple calculation says of a $10,000 investment to produce one job in a factory. It means, $10,000 x 200,000 = $2,000 million or Tk18,200 crore.

Now, I hope our @Black_cats or @UKBengali does not come up with their usual blunt assertion that a simple rich man like themselves can invest that much of little money. After all, their mentor Tipu Kumar said most BD people have better living standards than the Europeans.

 

[BananaRepublicUK]

So, employment depends upon the supply of energy in the SW region. One may tempt to ask why Bhola gas field(s) has not been developed yet? Was it because Padma Bridge was not there? I do not find any relationship.

In fact, Bhola gas should have been given more priority than Padma Bridge. I have been hearing about Bhola gas since time immemorial. So, I ask when it will materialize?

However, Bhola gas itself will not translate into 200,000 employment. Employment needs the setting up of factories and workshops that do not come without money and time.

The simple calculation says of a $10,000 investment to produce one job in a factory. It means, $10,000 x 200,000 = $2,000 million or Tk18,200 crore.

Now, I hope our @Black_cats or @UKBengali does not come up with their usual blunt assertion that a simple rich man like themselves can invest that much of little money. After all, their mentor Tipu Kumar said most BD people have better living standards than the Europeans.

Your calculation is about creating one direct job.

What about the multiplier effect?

You keep forgetting that in order for the mass of population to get highly educated - THEY NEED NUTRITION OVER MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.

British empire caused TWO famines in Bengal. One outcome is that body evolved to cope with tiny amount of food. So when Bengalis eat even in moderation - body stores that as fat. Causing heart disease and diabetes.

And then we had another famine after 1971.

Btw, I have a number of British educated medical doctors in my immediate family - SO DON’T try to explain that away!!!

Southern and western Bangladesh suffered most. And need the most help going forward.

 

[UKBengali]

We must remember that BD paid for the bridge out of it's own funds.

That is 4 billion US dollars out of its own pocket.

With each passing year, BD contributes more as a proportion of the funding for each "mega-project" as it's own internal revenue generating capability slowly increases.